Infant hand restraint drape and method of using

ABSTRACT

An infant hand restraint drape comprising, a sheet of flexible material for placement of the infant thereon. The sheet has flap means on opposite sides of the placed infant to receive the infant&#39;&#39;s arms and prevent movement thereof to the front of the infant&#39;&#39;s body.

United States Patent [191 Patel [4 Nov. 18, 1975 I 41 INFANT HAND RESVTRAINT DRAPE AND METHOD OF USING Harish A. Patel, Oak Park, 111.

The Kendall Company, Walpole, Mass.

Filed: Aug. 2, 1974 Appl. N0.: 494,250

Inventor:

Assignee:

us. or. 128/134 Int. Cl. A61F 13/00 Field of Search 12s/132-134.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hooper 128/134 7/1914 Hubner 128/134 3/1917 Hansen 1 128/134 4/1958 Strclakos 128/134 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmPowe1l L1 Sprunger ABSTRACT An infant hand restraint drape comprising, a sheet of flexible material for placement of the infant thereon. The sheet has flap means on opposite sides of the placed infant to receive the infants arms and prevent movement thereof to the front of the infant's body.

17 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures U.S.-atent Nov. 18,1975 SheetZ Q52 INFANT HAND RESTRAINT DRAPE AND METHOD OF USING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to drapes, and more particularly to drapes for infants.

Gavage and lavage procedures are often administered to an infant. In the former procedure a proximal end of a tube'or catheter is inserted into an infants stomach via oral or nasal cavity for feeding of the infant through the tube, while in the latter procedure the infants stomach is aspirated through the tube. Due to the foreign nature of the tube placed in the infant, the infant may inadvertently remove the tube with its hands. Accordingly, the infants hands must be restrained in some manner for such or other procedures to prevent the infant from dislodging the tube. In the past the infants hands have been restrained manually, which is inconvenient to the individuals administering the procedure, or the infants hands have been taped to an object, such as a mattress, which is uncomfortable to the infant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal feature of the present invention is the provision of a drape of simplified construction and a method for restraining the hands of an infant.

The drape of the present invention comprises a flexible sheet having a front surface, a pair of side edges and end edges connecting the side edges defining corner portions of the sheet. The infant is placed on the front surface of the sheet with its neck adjacent the end edge and intermediate the side edges. The drape has means for securing the corner portions of the sheet to the front surface of the sheet adjacent the infants body.

A feature of the invention is that the secured comer portions of the sheet prevent movement of the infants arms to the front of its body.

Another feature of the invention is that the securing means comprises a pair of tape strips adjacent the juncture of each of the side edges and the end edge of the sheet.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision of a folded drape which may be unfolded for use in a limited amount of space.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a method for restraining an infants arms.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a drape of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drape of FIG. 1 in its hand restraining configuration on an infant;

FIGS. 3-5 are fragmentary plan views of the drape of FIG. 1 showing additional embodiments of securing means for the drape; and

FIGS. 6-10 are diagrammatic views illustrating steps in folding of the drape of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a drape generally designated 10 having a sheet of flexible material 12, a front surface 13, a back surface 15, a pair of side edges 14a and 14b, and a pair of end edges 16a and 16b connecting the side edges 14a and b. The drape 10 may be disposable or non-disposable, as desired, and may be made of a nonwoven material, cloth, such as cotton, or other suitable material. The side edges 14a and b and end edge 16a define corner portions 18a and 18b of the sheet 12, as shown. A pair of pressure-sensitive tape strips 20a and 20b have inner portions 22a and 22b secured to the back surface 15 of the sheet, and end portions 24a and 24b extending outwardly from the sheet, with release sheets 26a and 26b covering the adhesive on the end portions 24a and b. The tape strips 20a and b are preferably located adjacent the juncture of the side edges 14a and b and the end edge 16a.

When it is desired to administer a procedure to an infant, such as a gavage or lavage procedure, the infant is placed on the front surface 13 of the sheet 12 with its neck adjacent the end edge 16a and intermediate the side edges 14a and b, as indicated by the indicia 28 on the front surface 13 of the sheet. The release sheets 26a and b are then removed from the end portions 24a and b of the tape strips 20a and b, and the corner portions and b of the sheet 12 are brought around the infants arms, as shown in FIG. 2, with the end portions of the tape strips being secured to the front surface of the sheet adjacent the infants body. The locations for securing the end portions of the tape strips are specified by indicia 30 on the front surface 13 of the sheet, as shown in FIG. 1. After the tape strips have been secured to the front surface of the sheet, the corner portions 18a and b of the sheet define flap means to prevent movement of the infants arms to the front of its body.

In its hand restraining configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the drape permits movement of the infants arms comfortably within the secured corner portions 18a and b, while the weight of the infant on the sheet retains the drape in place. However, the drape prevents the infant from moving its arms or hand to the front of its body and from dislodging a tube placed in the infant during a gavage or lavage procedure. If desired, the drape may have its corner portions presecured to the front surface of the sheet, such that the infants arms are placed in the attached corner portions, but it is believed of greater convenience to the individuals administering the procedures to secure the corner portions after placement of the infant on the drape.

According to a method of the present invention, the infant is placed on the drape with its neck intermediate the corner portions of the drape, and the comer portions of the drape are secured about the infants arms to the drape to prevent movement of the arms to the front of the body.

Additional embodiments of the securing means for the drape are illustrated in FIGs. 3-5. The drape of FIG. 3 has an adhesive zone 34 on the front surface 13 of the sheet 12 adjacent the juncture of the end edge 16a and the side edges 14a and b, with the adhesive zones 34 being covered by release sheets 36 (the release sheet is shown as partially removed from the adhesive zone). The release sheets 36 are removed from the adhesive zones 34 for securement of the corner portions about the infants arms. The drape of FIG. 4 has adhesive zones 34 spaced from the end and side edges of the drape which are covered by release sheets 36 (the adhesive on the left hand side of the drawing is shown partially exposed). The release sheets 36 are removed from the adhesive zones to secure the corner portions of the drape to the zones about the infants arms. Zones 38 of cohesive material, such as latex, are shown adjacent the juncture of the end edge 16a and the side edges 14a and b in the drape of FIG. 5. The drape also has a pair of cohesive zones 40 spaced from the side and end edges of the drape, and the corner portions 18a and b of the drape are secured about the infant's arms to the front surface 13 of the drape by attaching the cohesive zones 38 to the cohesive zones 40. Other suitable securing means may be used to attach the corner portions such as pairs of ties.

The drape of the present invention will frequently be positioned for use with an infant in a limited amount of space, such as in an incubator. Accordingly, it is desirable to fold the drape in a manner which facilitates packaging and subsequent unfolding in a confined area.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the corner portions 18a and b of the drape are first folded against the front surface 13 along diagonal fold lines 50a and 50b extending between end edge 16a and side edges 14a and b. The end portions 24a and b of tape strips a and b are preferably folded to a position intermediate the corner portions 18a and b and the front surface 13. As shown in FIG. 7, the drape is then fan-folded along lateral lines 52a, b, c, d, e, andf, with the fold line 52a being preferably located adjacent the side edges 14a and b of the corner portions 180 and b, to reduce the length of the sheet 12. Next. the drape is folded along a pair of longi tudinal fold lines 54a and 54b intermediate the longitudinal center line of the drape and the side edges 14a and b, as shown in FIG. 8, to reduce the width of the drape. Preferably. the fold lines 54a and b are located approximately midway between the side edges 14a and b and the longitudinal center of the drape, such that the side edges of end sections 560 and 56b, defined by the folds 54a and b, are closely spaced after the end sections are folded. Finally, the drape is folded in half along the longitudinal center line 58 as shown in FIG. 9, resulting in the configuration of the folded drape of FIG. 10.

The procedure for folding the drape is reversed for unfolding it preparatory for use. The drape is unfolded about the longitudinal center line 58, the longitudinal fold lines 54a and b, and then the fold lines 520, b, c, d, c, andf. Finally, the comer portions 18a and b are lifted for placement of the infant on the front surface 13 of the drape, after which the corner portions are secured about the infants arms by the tape strips 20a and b, as previously described. Thus, it is apparent that the configuration of the folded drape of FIG. 10 permits unfolding and use of the drape in a confined area.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

I. An infant hand restraint drape, comprising:

a sheet of flexible material for placement of the infant thereon, said sheet having flap means on opposite sides of the placed infant and secured to the sheet after placement of the infant to receive the infants arms and prevent movement thereof to the front of the infants body, said drape including a pair of side edges and an end edge connecting the side edges, said flap means comprising corner portions of the drape defined by said side edges and end edge, and said drape including means for securing the corner portions of the drape to said sheet about the infants arms.

2. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of tape strips extending outwardly from said sheet adjacent the juncture of eachzof said side edges and the end edge of said sheet.

3. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a zone of adhesive adjacent the juncture of said end edge and side edges.

4. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of adhesive zones spaced from said end edge and side edges of the sheet and located adjacent the infants body when positioned generally centrally between the side edges of the sheet.

5. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of first zones of a cohesive material adjacent the juncture of said end edge and side edges, and a pair of second zones of cohesive material spaced from said end and side edges and located adjacent the infants body when positioned generally centrally between the side edges of the sheet, said first and second zones being attached together to secure the comer positions to the sheet adjacent the infants body.

6. An infant hand restraint drape, comprising:

a sheet of flexible material having a front surface, a pair of side edges and an end edge connecting the side edges defining corner portions of the sheet, said infant being placed on the front surface of the sheet with its neck adjacent said end edge and intermediate the side edges, and means for securing said corner portions of the sheet about the infants arms to the front surface of the sheet adjacent the infants body to prevent movement of the arms to the front of its body.

7. The drape of claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises, a pair of tape strips adjacent the juncture of each of said side edges and the end edge of the sheet.

8. The drape of claim 7 including release sheets covering at least a portion of said tape strips.

9. The drape of claim 7 including indicia of the front surface of the sheet indicating the location for securement of the tape strips.

10. The drape of claim 6 including. indicia on the front surface of the sheet designating a location for placement of the infant on the sheet.

11. A method of restraining an infants arms, comprising:

placing an infant on a drape with its neck intermediate corner portions of the drape; and

securing the corner portions of the drape about the infants arms to the drape between the infants arms and body after placement of the infant to prevent movement of the arms to the front of its body.

12. A drape for use in a confined area, comprising:

a sheet of flexible material having a front surface, a back surface, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges connecting the side edges;

a pair of folds along diagonal fold lines extending between one of said end edges and said side edges, with the juncture of the diagonal fold lines and said one end edge being intermediate the longitudinal center line of the sheet and said side edges, said diagonal fold lines defining a pair of comer portions of the sheet being folded against the front surface of the sheet;

a fan fold of the sheet along a plurality of fold lines extending laterally between said side edges, said lateral fold lines reducing the length of the drape.

13. The drape of claim 12 including a pair of folds of the fan folded sheet along longitudinally extending fold lines located intermediate said side edges and the longitudinal center line of the sheet.

14. The drape of claim'l3 including a fold ofthe longitudinally folded sheet line of the sheet.

15. The drape of claim '13 wherein said longitudinal fold lines are located approximately mid-way between the side edges and the longitudinal center line of the sheet.

along the longitudinal center surface of said sheet. 

1. An infant hand restraint drape, comprising: a sheet of flexible material for placement of the infant thereon, said sheet having flap means on opposite sides of the placed infant and secured to the sheet after placement of the infant to receive the infant''s arms and prevent movement thereof to the front of the infant''s body, said drape including a pair of side edges and an end edge connecting the side edges, said flap means comprising corner portions of the drape defined by said side edges and end edge, and said drape including means for securing the corner portions of the drape to said sheet about the infant''s arms.
 2. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of tape strips extending outwardly from said sheet adjacent the juncture of each of said side edges and the end edge of said sheet.
 3. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a zone of adhesive adjacent the juncture of said end edge and side edges.
 4. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of adhesive zones spaced from said end edge and side edges of the sheet and locatEd adjacent the infant''s body when positioned generally centrally between the side edges of the sheet.
 5. The drape of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a pair of first zones of a cohesive material adjacent the juncture of said end edge and side edges, and a pair of second zones of cohesive material spaced from said end and side edges and located adjacent the infant''s body when positioned generally centrally between the side edges of the sheet, said first and second zones being attached together to secure the corner positions to the sheet adjacent the infant''s body.
 6. An infant hand restraint drape, comprising: a sheet of flexible material having a front surface, a pair of side edges and an end edge connecting the side edges defining corner portions of the sheet, said infant being placed on the front surface of the sheet with its neck adjacent said end edge and intermediate the side edges, and means for securing said corner portions of the sheet about the infant''s arms to the front surface of the sheet adjacent the infant''s body to prevent movement of the arms to the front of its body.
 7. The drape of claim 6 wherein the securing means comprises, a pair of tape strips adjacent the juncture of each of said side edges and the end edge of the sheet.
 8. The drape of claim 7 including release sheets covering at least a portion of said tape strips.
 9. The drape of claim 7 including indicia of the front surface of the sheet indicating the location for securement of the tape strips.
 10. The drape of claim 6 including indicia on the front surface of the sheet designating a location for placement of the infant on the sheet.
 11. A method of restraining an infant''s arms, comprising: placing an infant on a drape with its neck intermediate corner portions of the drape; and securing the corner portions of the drape about the infant''s arms to the drape between the infant''s arms and body after placement of the infant to prevent movement of the arms to the front of its body.
 12. A drape for use in a confined area, comprising: a sheet of flexible material having a front surface, a back surface, a pair of side edges, and a pair of end edges connecting the side edges; a pair of folds along diagonal fold lines extending between one of said end edges and said side edges, with the juncture of the diagonal fold lines and said one end edge being intermediate the longitudinal center line of the sheet and said side edges, said diagonal fold lines defining a pair of corner portions of the sheet being folded against the front surface of the sheet; a fan fold of the sheet along a plurality of fold lines extending laterally between said side edges, said lateral fold lines reducing the length of the drape.
 13. The drape of claim 12 including a pair of folds of the fan folded sheet along longitudinally extending fold lines located intermediate said side edges and the longitudinal center line of the sheet.
 14. The drape of claim 13 including a fold of the longitudinally folded sheet along the longitudinal center line of the sheet.
 15. The drape of claim 13 wherein said longitudinal fold lines are located approximately mid-way between the side edges and the longitudinal center line of the sheet.
 16. The drape of claim 12 wherein one of said lateral fold lines is located adjacent side edges of said corner portions.
 17. The drape of claim 12 including a pair of tape strips having outer portions extending from said side edges adjacent the juncture of the side edges and said one end edge, said outer portions of the strips being folded intermediate the corner portions and the front surface of said sheet. 